                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT (§ 54.1-2608)

A. A license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a home
state to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each member state as
authorizing an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice audiology
or speech-language pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member
state.

B. A state must implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal
history records of applicants for initial privilege to practice. These
procedures shall include the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based
information by applicants for the purpose of obtaining an applicant&#8217;s
criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
the agency responsible for retaining that state&#8217;s criminal records.

   1. A member state must fully implement a criminal background check
   requirement, within a time frame established by rule, by receiving the results
   of the Federal Bureau of Investigation record search on criminal background
   checks and use the results in making licensure decisions.

   2. Communication between a member state and the Commission and among member
   states regarding the verification of eligibility for licensure through the
   Compact shall not include any information received from the Federal Bureau of
   Investigation relating to a federal criminal records check performed by a
   member state under Public Law 92-544.

C. Upon application for a privilege to practice, the licensing board in the
issuing remote state shall ascertain, through the data system, whether the
applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a license issued by any other
state, whether there are any encumbrances on any license or privilege to
practice held by the applicant, and whether any adverse action has been taken
against any license or privilege to practice held by the applicant.

D. Each member state shall require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in
the home state and meet the home state&#8217;s qualifications for licensure or
renewal of licensure, as well as all other applicable state laws.

E. For an audiologist:

   1. Must meet one of the following educational requirements:
   				a. On or before December 31, 2007, has graduated with a master&#8217;s
   degree or doctorate in audiology, or equivalent degree regardless of degree
   name, from a program that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by
   the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the
   United States Department of Education and is operated by a college or
   university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization
   recognized by the Board; or
   				b. On or after January 1, 2008, has graduated with a doctoral degree in
   audiology, or equivalent degree, regardless of degree name, from a program
   that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for
   Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the United States
   Department of Education and is operated by a college or university accredited
   by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Board; or
   				c. Has graduated from an audiology program that is housed in an
   institution of higher education outside of the United States for which (i) the
   program and institution have been approved by the authorized accrediting body
   in the applicable country and (ii) the degree program has been verified by an
   independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a state licensing
   board-approved program;

   2. Has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an accredited
   educational institution or its cooperating programs as required by the
   Commission;

   3. Has successfully passed a national examination approved by the Commission;

   4. Holds an active, unencumbered license;

   5. Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an agreed
   disposition, of a felony related to the practice of audiology, under
   applicable state or federal criminal law; and

   6. Has a valid United States social security number or National Practitioner
   Identification number.

F. For a speech-language pathologist:

   1. Must meet one of the following educational requirements:
   				a. Has graduated with a master&#8217;s degree from a speech-language
   pathology program that is accredited by an organization recognized by the
   United States Department of Education and operated by a college or university
   accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by
   the Board; or
   				b. Has graduated from a speech-language pathology program that is housed
   in an institution of higher education outside of the United States for which
   (i) the program and institution have been approved by the authorized
   accrediting body in the applicable country and (ii) the degree program has
   been verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to
   a state licensing board-approved program;

   2. Has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an
   educational institution or its cooperating programs as required by the
   Commission;

   3. Has completed a supervised postgraduate professional experience as required
   by the Commission;

   4. Has successfully passed a national examination approved by the Commission;

   5. Holds an active, unencumbered license;

   6. Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an agreed
   disposition, of a felony related to the practice of speech-language pathology,
   under applicable state or federal criminal law; and

   7. Has a valid United States social security number or National Practitioner
   Identification number.

G. The privilege to practice is derived from the home state license.

H. An audiologist or speech-language pathologist practicing in a member state
must comply with the state practice laws of the state in which the client is
located at the time service is provided. The practice of audiology and
speech-language pathology shall include all audiology and speech-language
pathology practice as defined by the state practice laws of the member state in
which the client is located. The practice of audiology and speech-language
pathology in a member state under a privilege to practice shall subject an
audiologist or speech-language pathologist to the jurisdiction of the licensing
board, the courts, and the laws of the member state in which the client is
located at the time service is provided.

I. Individuals not residing in a member state shall continue to be able to apply
for a member state&#8217;s single-state license as provided under the laws of
each member state. However, the single-state license granted to these
individuals shall not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice
audiology or speech-language pathology in any other member state. Nothing in
this Compact shall affect the requirements established by a member state for the
issuance of a single-state license.

J. Member states may charge a fee for granting a compact privilege.

K. Member states must comply with the bylaws and rules and regulations of the
Commission.

HISTORY: 2023, c. 337.